Huge thanks to absolutely everyone who came to support me in Welling last night! I'm so glad I took that plunge and you all made it worthwhile.
I mentioned that it would be a pivotal occasion, a trial run that a future of regularly doing covers gigs on the side again would hinge on.
My conclusion is.... not on the regular, but never say never, and I'm glad I did it!
It went way better than I expected. I had an extremely unconventional but carefully calculated setlist of songs that I like and everyone knows but nobody else plays, going down as well as I imagine the exhausted standards would have - if not even better.
Someone proposed to his girlfriend, and she said yes - that was quite an honour to be a part of.
Of course, the right setlist is essential. But an equally essential element to it, especially being on one's own, is being able to take absolute charge for three hours, not dropping the ball for even a second. It's much more physically and mentally taxing but that makes it even more rewarding.
And with these sort of shows, playing songs is only a fraction of it. Others include conducting, mediating, educating, pacifying, hyping, calming, split-second decisions and quips that could make or break control or attention, reading the room and adjusting the set accordingly, and entertaining from the first to last note.
And the kind words I got from people, not only the incredible amount who came specifically to see me but also the locals who didn't but all stuck around until the end, was truly humbling.
It gave me a newfound top respect for people who are cut out to pursue this path and flourish in it on the regular.
Whilst last night reaffirmed the intensity of my own creative urges and future ventures remaining primarily in alignment, and my soul being more built for such, I'm pleased that I did it as it brought joy to everyone in the room, and it proved to myself that I can, should it be a path I take in future.
Doing a show myself even in this form certainly tackled insecurities that I couldn't, and I do want to utilise the knowledge that I can towards the performance direction I want to go in - playing my own songs to fans of said songs in designated music venues. I have songs, and with immense gratitude, I have you. But first, I must finish this album and figure out how to make such a venture feasible.
Listening to the rough mixes and the feedback of the few who've heard them, plus Another Guy and Out Of Hand which are already out there - and receiving a near-final mix of a recent song this afternoon - I'm super proud of what I will eventually unleash and am increasingly confident you'll dig it.
Anything in the covers field thereon is in the lap of not just the gods, but also carefully steering the wheel towards my intended direction, balancing the ratio, and less gaps in my diary than I initially presumed! Never say never - I just have some urges I need to quench first.
Thanks all, supporters, spectators, punters, bar staff, management, Simmons for the show, Colin for immortalising it, and all who were a part of it.
Pelton tomorrow, Iron Horse Monday, and lots planned for March onwards - private, public, collaborative, individual, regulars, fresh, and creative x